Friction exercise device having gripper elements



A. STRUBLE May 18, 1965 FRICTION EXERCISE DEVICE HAVING GRIPPER ELEMENTS Filed Jan. 31, 1963 INVENTOR: ALBERT STRUBLE Md WW ATTYS.

United States Patent 3,184,234 FRICTION EXERCISE DEVICE HAVING GRKPPER ELEMENTS Albert Struble, 508 Irvington Road, Drexel Hill, Pa. Filed Jan. 31, 1963, Ser. No. 255,252 4 Claims. (Cl. 272-68) The present invention relates to exercising devices and more particularly to a device for use in developing the muscles of the hands, wrists and arms.

One embodiment of exercising device in accordance with the present invention comprises a pair of generally cylindrical, hollow gripping elements rotatably mounted in end to end relation on a rod, disc-like friction members adjacent axial end faces of the gripping elements and a retainer member in the form of a knob mounted on each terminal end of the rod operable to maintain the gripping elements and friction discs in pressure applying relation. At least one of the knobs is adapted for movement axially on the rod whereby the pressure applying relation between the gripping elements and the friction means may be varied selectively thereby to vary the resistance to relative turning of the gripping elements to suit the exercise requirements of the user.

In using the device, the user places one hand on each of the gripping elements and turns them relative to one another whereby the resistance to relative rotation of the gripping elements results in the exercise and development of the various muscles of the hands, wrists and arms.

An important feature of the device of the present invention is the provision of means insuring a uniform pressure applying relation between the gripping elements and the'friction means for a given setting of the adjusting knob upon relative rotation of the gripping elements during use of the device. To this end, a lock washer is mounted on the terminal end of the rod against rotation with respect thereto and is disposed between the adjusting knobs and the friction discs at the outer ends of the gripping elements. By this arrangement relative turning of the gripping elements does not cause turning of the adjusting knobs relative to the rod for a given setting of the knobs. A further means insuring a substantially uniform resistance to relative turning of the gripping elements is the provision of a flexible, resilient member disposed between the confronting ends of the gripping elements which serve to equalize and distribute the pressure between elements of the device and which is larger in diameter than the gripping elements to visually divide the device in halves.

In accordance with another embodiment of the exerciser in accordance with the present invention, the device comprises a plurality of gripping elements, one for each finger of the hands of the user and friction means in pressure applying relation with the gripping elements providing a resistance to relative turning of the gripping elements. By this arrangement, the user may exercise selected fingers of each of the hands and relax other fingers. This type of device is especially useful, for example, for golfers where only certain fingers grip the shaft of the club tightly and other merely serve as guide means. This embodiment also incorporates the adjusting means for selectively varying the pressure applying relation between the gripping elements and also means for insuring uniform pressure applying relation between the gripping elements and friction means for a given setting of the adjusting knobs.

With the foregoing in mind, an object of the present invention is to provide a device for exercising the hands, wrists and arms which incorporates novel adjusting features for selectively varying the resistance to relative turning of the gripping elements to suit the exercising requirements of the user wherein a substantially uniform resistance to turning of the gripping elements is assured during use of the device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an exercising device of the above type which is of compartively compact construction so that it is readily portable and is comprised of relatively few parts so that it may be manufactured economically.

These and other objects of the present invention and the various features and details of the construction and use thereof are hereinafter more fully set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of one embodiment of exercising device in accordance with the present invention partly in section to show some of the details of the construction thereof;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view partly in section of another embodiment of wrist exerciser inaccordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view partly in section of still another form of exercising device in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, there is illustrated an exercising device in accordance with the present invention. The device comprises a pair of elongated generally cylindrical gripping elements 12 each having an axial bore 14 of circular cross section extending therethrough whereby the gripping elements may be mounted in side by side relation on a rod 18 of generally circular cross section. The gripping elements 10 and 12 are preferably made of wood and each is of a suitable length to accommodate gripping comfortably by the hand of the user. Friction means, in the form of washer-like discs 20 made for example of plastic or metal are rotatably mounted on the rod 18 adjacent axial end faces of the gripping elements 10 and 12. The gripping elements 10 and 12 and friction discs 26 are maintained in pressure applying relation by a retainer member in the form of a knob 22 mounted on each terminal end of the rod 18. At least one of the knobs 22 is adjustable axially of the rod to provide means for selectively varying the pressure applying relationship and resistance to relative turning of the gripping elements whereby the device may be adjusted readily to suit the exercise requirements of the user. In the present instance both knobs 22 are adjustable and to this end the outer terminal ends of the rod 18 are threaded and the knobs are provided with internally threaded inserts 24. The knobs are of spherical shape and are dimpled, for example, to simulate a pair of golf balls and to facilitate gripping for adjustment purposes by the user.

An important feature of the present invention is the provision of means preventing relative rotation of the knobs and rod during use of the device for a given setting of the knobs thereby insuring a substantially uniform resistance to relative turning of the gripping elements. In

the present instance, this is accomplished by "mounting a lock washer 30 made for example of a relatively hard disc 20 confronting, the outer axial end face of the grip ping element. The lock washers 30 are restrained against rotation relative to the rod 18 by undercutting the terminal ends of the rod 18 at diametrically opposed portions so that the terminal ends are of generally rectangular cross section and providing'a central opening 32 of generally rectangular shape in the lock washer which is suitably sized to be received over the terminal end of the rod.

Another feature contributing to uniform resistance to relative turning of the gripping elements during'u se of the device is the provision of a fiexible,.resilient element in the, form of a washer 34 made forexample of a relatively soft rubber between the friction discs separating confronting end faces of the gripping elements. 'The washer 34 serves to equalize anddistribute the pressure more uniformly between the interengaging elements of the device and thereby compensate for slight surface irregularities, .for example, in the .end facesof the gripping elements which might tend to create a non-uniform resist- V ance to turning of the gripping elements. As illustrated,

the washer 34 is of a different diameter than the friction discs 20 and, gripping elements and 12 and serves 7 as a visual means dividing the device in halves.

. v 4 ping elements 50 and friction discs 54. The knobs 51 are dimpled to facilitate turning for adjustment purposes.

This embodiment of the invention also incorporates means for insuring a substantially uniform pressure applying relation between the elements of the device providing a substantially uniform'resistance to turning of the gripping elements for a given setting of the adjusting knobs. To this end, the terminalends of the rod 52 are undercutat diametrically opposed portions so that they are of generally rectangular cross section and lock washers 73 having a central opening. of rectangular cross section to snugly fit on the terminal'ends of theshaft against turning are provided between the adjusting knob 51 and the friction disc 54 at each end of the device.

In the present instance there are two groups R and L of gripping elements 50 (only one complete group is shown), each group comprising four gripping elements 50' which are -.of a suitable axial length to be grasped comfortably by eachof the fingers of one hand of the user without crowding. The groups R and L are separated by a resilient, flexible washer element 56 made for example of a soft rubber whichserves to equalizeand In the use of the exercising device, the gripping. ele- V ments 10 and 12 are grasped by the hands of the user, and

rotated relative to one another. The, resistance to relax tive rotation of the gripping elements caused by the'frictional interengagement of the various friction discs 20 and the'gripping elements 10 and 12results in the exercise anddevelopment of the hands, wrists: and arms of the 7 user. The'resistance to relative rotation or" the gripping elements 10 and 12 may be adjusted selectively by the* user to suit particular exercise requirements by turning one or both of the adjusting knobs 22axially relative to the rod 18; Movement of one or both of the knobs 22 axially inwardly: on the rod 18 causes the gripping elements'10 and 12 and the frictiondiscs 20. to bear against one, another with increased 'pressure thereby to increase the resistance to relative rotation of the gripping elements 10 and 12. Conversely, when the knobs 22 are turned to move axially outwardly ofthe rod 18 the resistance torelativerotation of the gripping elements 10 and 12 is decreased. It isnoted that during use of the device the lock washers 30. disposed between the adjusting knobs 22 and the friction discs 20 at theouter axial ends of the gripping elements are prevented from rotating relative to the rod 18 and also relative to the knobs 22 thereby preeluding loosening of the adjusting knobs 22 wherebylthe pressure applying relation between the elements of 'the device is maintained substantially uniform for a particularsetting of the adjusting knobs. Further,-the resilient pressure distributing element 34 also serves to equalize and distribute the pressure between the elements of'the device. 7

Another embodiment of exercising device in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 3 which incorporates a novel arrangement of parts facilitati'ngexercise of selected fingers of the hand of the user if desired. To this end, the device comprises a plurality of barrel-like gripping elements 50 made for example of wood mounted inside by side relation on a rod 52' and separated from another by a. plurality of disc-like fric- I tion elements 54 made for example of plastic, nylon or other suitable friction material.

adjusting the pressure applying relation between the grip The gripping elements 50 and friction discs 54 aremaintainedin pressure applydistribute the pressure between the friction discs and gripping elementsof the two groups and which is of a larger diameter than-the gripping elements and friction discs to serve as a visual means separating the groups Rand 'sleeve-66 made for example of plastic which has an axial bore 67 therethrough of 'squarecross; section so,

that it may be mounted on the rod against rotation with respect to the rod 52. As illustrated, each of the sleeves 66 is ota shorter axial length than the gripping elements 50 whereby in theassembled relation the axial end facesfof the gripping-elements 50 engage the friction discs 54 and the axial end faces of the sleeves 66 are spaced therefrom. By this arrangement the gripping elements rotate onthe-plastic sleeves 66 thereby mini mizing wear of the grip ing eIementsSO.

In the use of the device, the user .grasps the gripping elements 50 of each group by one hand,,with'the fingers of each hand placed on one of thexg ripping elements 50. Thereafter, the groups R and L of gripping elements 50' are rotated in opposite directions, whereby the interengagement of the friction discs 54 and grip ping elements 50 providesj a resistance to rotation. This resistance to rotation may be varied selectively to threading one or'both of the adjusting knobs -51 axiallyalong the rod '52'to suit the particular exercise requirements of the user. If'desired, one or more fingers of each hand may be relaxed, or released from their respective gripping elements 50 so that the resistance to turning movement of thegripping elements 50 engaged by the fingers grasping the device bear-the load of turning the gripping'elements thus providing means for exercising selected fingers of the hand independently. It is noted that the lock washers 73 prevent loosening of the adjusting knobs during use of the device so that the resistance to turning the gripping elements may be set and maintained very precisely as desired. Further,'it is noted thatthe gripping elements 50 are rotated relative to the plastic sleeve thereby minimizing wear;

v A modified form of the exercising device ofFIG. 3, described above is illustrated in FIG. 4. This devicecomprises a plurality of barrel-like gripping elements 'made for example of wood, a plurality of spacers 154 of plastic disposed between adjacent ones of the gripping elements, a rod 152 on which the gripping elements are mounted and a retainer. member in the form of an adjusting knob 151 threadedly mounted on each threaded terminal end of the rod 152'. An' enlarged;

a'ubberdividing washer 156 separates the gripping elements into right and left hand groups R and L and also serves to equalize and distribute the pressure be tween interengaging elements of the device. This form of the invention also includes lock washers 173 adjacent axial ends of the device, each having a rectangular shaped central opening 153 to fit over the terminal ends of the rod 152 which are of rectangular cross section to thereby prevent loosening of the adjusting knobs for a given setting thereof.

In accordance with this form of the invention, each of the gripping elements is mounted on a sleeve 166 made of a resilient material such as rubber, the sleeve in turn having an axial bore therethrough of circular cross section to snugly fit on the rod 152 which is also of circular cross section. As shown, each of the sleeves 166 is of an axial length slightly greater than one of the gripping elements so that each of the sleeves 166 engages at its axial end face the spacers 154 and the axial end faces of the gripping elements are spaced therefrom.

The device is used generally the same way as that shown in FIG. 3 and described above, Thus, each finger of the user is placed on one of the gripping elements. The hands are then rotated in opposite directions whereby the resistance to relative rotation of the gripping element 150 provides the exercising action. If desired, selected fingers may be released from their respective gripping elements to exercise only those fingers gripping the device. It is noted that in the present instance the resistance to rotation of the gripping elements is provided by compression of the various resilient sleeves 166 between the spacers which forces the sleeve 166 radially outwardly into frictional engagement with the gripping elements 150. Resistance to rotation of the gripping elements 150 may be increased by threading one or both of the adjusting knobs 151 axially inwardly relative to the rod 152 whereby the spacers 154 tend to compress the resilient sleeves 166 thereby bulging them radially outwardly and increasing the radial pressure against the various gripping elements. Threading the knobs 151 outwardly on the rod 152 releases the radial pressure of the sleeves 166 on the gripping elements to reduce the resistance to relative turning thereof. The resistance to relative turning of the gripping elements is maintained substantially uniform for a given setting of the knobs by the lock washer arrangement and the resilient divider 156.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides a novel hand, wrist and arm exerciser which is of comparatively simplified construction and arrangement and which is extremely effective for the purposes intended. The device may be adjusted selectively to suit the exercise requirements of the user and incorporates means preventing loosening of the adjustment during use of the device. In accordance with the forms of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, selected fingers of the user may be exercised individually.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not intended to limit the invention and changes and modification may be made within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An exercising device comprising an elongated rod of non-circular cross section for the major part of its length, the terminal ends of said rod being threaded and of generally rectangular cross section, a plurality of sleeves of predetermined axial length having an axial bore therethrough conforming in cross section to the cross section of said rod mounted on said rod against rotation with respect thereto, a plurality of barrel-like short cylindrical gripping elements having an axial bore therethrough of circular cross section, each of said gripping elements being of a length greater than said sleeve and circumscribing said sleeve for rotational movement relative thereto, spacer means disposed between confronting ends of said gripping elements and engaging said gripping elements to provide a resistance to relative turning thereof, a knob mounted at each terminal end of said rod, each of said knobs having an internally threaded opening to mount the same at the terminal ends of said rod for adjusting axial movement along said rod for selectively varying the pressure applying relationship between said gripping elements and said spacer means thereby providing means for selectively varying the resistance to relative turning movement of said gripping elements and lock washers mounted on said rod between said adjustable knobs and the outer axial end faces of said gripping elements, each said lock washer having a rectangular shaped opening conforming generally to the cross section of the terminal ends of the rod to prevent relative turning movement of the lock washers relative to the rod for a given setting thereof thereby to provide substantially uniform resistance to relative turning of said gripping elements for said given setting.

2. A portable exercising device comprising at least two generally cylindrical gripping elements each having an axial bore extending therethrough, a rod for mounting the gripping elements thereon in end to end relation, spacer means disposed between confronting axial ends of said gripping elements and engaging said gripping elements to provide a resistance to relative turning thereof, the terminal ends of said rod being threaded and of generally rectangular cross section, an adjusting knob mounted at each terminal end of said rod, each of said adjusting knobs having an internally threaded opening to mount the same at the terminal ends of said rod for adjusting movement relative thereto for selectively varying the pressure applying relationship between said gripping elements and said friction disc thereby to provide means for selectively varying the resistance to relative rotation of said gripping elements and lock washers mounted on said rod between said adjustable knobs and the outer axial end faces of said gripping elements, each said lock washer having a rectangular shaped opening conforming generally to the cross section of the terminal ends of the rod to prevent relative turning movement of the lock washers relative to the rod for a given setting thereof thereby to provide substantially uniform resistance to relative turning of said gripping elements for said given setting.

3. A portable exercising device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said spacer means comprises a pair of friction discs provided between confronting ends of said gripping elements and including a flexible, resilient washer disposed between the friction discs at the confronting ends of said gripping elements to equalize and distribute the pressure exerted between said gripping elements and said friction discs and being a larger diameter than said friction discs to serve as a visual means dividing the device into two sections.

4. A portable exercising device comprising a plurality of barrel-like gripping elements, means mounting the gripping elements in a row in end to end relation in two groups, each group comprising four elements, spacer means disposed between confronting ends of adjacent gripping elements and adapted to engage said gripping elements to provide a resistance to relative turning thereof, a rod for mounting the gripping elements thereon in end to end relation, the terminal ends of said rod being threaded and of generally rectangular cross section, an adjusting knob mounted at each terminal end of said rod, each of said adjusting knobs having an internally threaded opening to mount the same at the terminal ends of said rod for adjusting movement relative thereto for selectively varying the pressure applying relationship between said gripping elements and said friction disc thereby to provide means for selectively varying the resistance to relative rotation of said gripping elements and lockwasher s References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS mounted on said rod between said adjustable knobs andt the outer aXial end' faces of said gripping elements, each said lock Washer having a rectangular shaped opening conforming generally to the cross section of the terminal ends of the rod to prevent relative turning movement of" the locktwash ers relative to the rod for a given s'etting thereof thereby to provide substantially uniform resistance to relative turning of said gripping elements for said given setting.

3,111, 22 1 RICHARD c. 1PINKHAM,- Piimufy Examiner. 

1. AN EXERCISING DEVICE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED ROD OF NON-CIRCULAR CROSS SECTION FOR THE MAJOR PART OF ITS LENGTH, THE TERMINAL ENDS OF SAID ROD BEING THREADED AND OF GENERALLY RECTANGULAR CROSS SECTION, A PLURALITY OF SLEEVES OF PREDETERMINED AXIAL LENGTH HAVING AN AXIAL BORE THERETHROUGH CONFORMING IN CROSS SECTION TO THE CROSS SECTION OF SAID ROD MOUNTED ON SAID ROD AGAINST ROTATION WITH RESPECT THERETO, A PLURALITY OF BARREL-LIKE SHORT CYLINDRICAL GRIPPING ELEMENTS HAVING AN AXIAL BORE THERETHROUGH A CIRCULAR CROSS SECTION, EACH OF SAID GRIPPING ELEMENTS BEING OF A LENGTH GREATER THAN SAID SLEEVE AND CIRCUMSCRIBING SAID SLEEVE FOR ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO, SPACER MEANS DISPOSED BETWEEN CONFRONTING ENDS OF SAID GRIPPING ELEMENTS AND ENGAGING SAID GRIPPING ELEMENTS TO PROVIDE A RESISTANCE TO RELATIVE TURNING THEREOF, A KNOB MOUNTED AT EACH TERMINAL END OF SAID ROD, EACH OF SAID KNOBS HAVING AN INTERNALLY THREADED OPENING TO MOUNT THE SAME AT THE TERMINAL ENDS OF SAID ROD FOR ADJUSTING AXIAL MOVEMENT ALONG SAID ROD FOR SELECTIVELY VARYING THE PRESSURE APPLYING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SAID GRIPPING ELEMENTS AND SAID SPACER MEANS THEREBY PROVIDING MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY VARYING THE RESISTANCE TO RELATIVE TURNING MOVEMENT OF SAID GRIPPING ELEMENTS AND LOCK WASHERS MOUNTED ON SAID ROD BETWEEN SAID ADJUSTABLE KNOBS AND THE OUTER AXIAL END FACES OF SAID GRIPPING ELEMENTS, EACH SAID LOCK WASHER HAVING A RECTANGULAR SHAPED OPENING CONFORMING GENERALLY TO THE CROSS SECTION OF THE TERMINAL ENDS OF THE ROD TO PREVENT RELATIVE TURNING MOVEMENT OF THE LOCK WASHERS RELATIVE TO THE ROD FOR A GIVEN SETTING THEREOF THEREBY TO PROVIDE SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM RESISTANCE TO RELATIVE TURNING OF SAID GRIPPING ELEMENTS FOR SAID GIVEN SETTING. 